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The entire hallway can be flipped over and used as a raft in the event of a flood.Photo: Melissa Hom

Tao's midtown location has long been a dark, colossal hotbed of throbbing beats, theatrical décor, and — occasionally — pan-Asian food served to its bedazzled customers. Meanwhile, the Vegas outpost is the most profitable restaurant in the country. It looks like the brand-new Chelsea location, at 92 Ninth Avenue in the Maritime Hotel, is set to keep the unce-unce dream alive.

The new location, which opens its doors to the public tomorrow, is a 22,000-square-foot behemoth that spans what used to be two separate businesses.

The bi-level space can seat 400 people, but that really means 600 or so if you can take the model-type clientele into consideration. So, what about the food? Well, the menu includes some new dishes like roasted chicken chow mein, with hand-pulled noodles made daily in house. There's also a separate sushi bar, murals with Chinese calligraphy, and a 40-foot staircase. It's all sure to be very understated and sedate.